Here is my up-to-date Creative CV
Production Area
- 1 big table where is all communication tools: phone, internet, 2 computers, 3 iPods for music, studio, production, orders, shipping, payment and other important journals are keeping, and medicine chest
- 2 big tables for cutting and pattern making. The table for pattern making is strictly forbidden to use for cutting
- 5 industrial sewing machines. All fabrics from new and previous seasons keep under the cutting table, while patterns and shoes from last collection keep under pattern making table
- 10 rails: 2 for current collection patterns, 1 for hangers that keeps for show room, covered and beautifully presented; 2 rails for scraps from all collections, 5 rails keep garments that on the stage of producing
- 2 industrial steam irons
- 1 pro fusing press
- 1 belts making machine
- 10 mannequins
- 7 tables for sewers
- 1 trolley with stationery, blades, tape-measures, paper and fabric scissors, rules and weights
- 1 recycling and 1 general waist bins
- 3 shelves for ribbons, threads, buttons, zips, chains, etc.
Show Room
Beautifully presented room where all guests are welcomed, customers try garments, interviews and photography happen.
Boudicca Platform 13 was my third internship, from 11th March untill 15th April.
Duration: 5 weeks
Role: Studio Assistant
General Information: Zowie Broach and Brian Kirkby graduated from Middlesex University and went into partnership to create Boudicca in 1997. Named in honor of the Celtic warrior queen, Boudicca is more of an art project than a fashion line. Boudicca creates beautiful clothes that are impeccably ut and non-conformist. The designers explore the balance between edginess and femininity through their highly stylized and refined collections. (Davies, 2010, p.44)
Trial Day, working hours: 10am - 7pm
Emily met me and we went straight to the studio. She had shown to me production area, kitchen, laundry.
Just to notice: I was a bit confused as Emily introduced herself, but didn’t say which role she does at Boudicca. Same was with other people. Just at the end of the day I had understood who is who. That Chris and Jenny are interns, Zowie and Brian are heads of the label. As sometimes people look a bit different from their photographs that I saw online I couldn’t recognize Zowie from the first look. If I didn’t do the on-line research back home after the working day I wouldn’t know that Neha is a Production Manager. And Emily is a second Production Manager. Zowie and Neha were standing behind my back in the studio, but nobody said ‘Hello’. I didn’t feel myself ignored or something because I came to the studio to get a work experience, to learn the mechanism how the fashion label works. But what I truly think is that if I were a boss I would pay attention to each worker as it shows my respect to employee and supports him to achieve better result and willingness to work in general.
It was first day since Boudicca came back from Paris, where new collection was presented. My trial day was about cleaning and preparing the working space for a new round. I got at Boudicca at the moment of production, so I have learnt everything about manufacturing, orders, shipping, private orders, timing, finishing, quality checking.
Some notes what I did:
- naming plates, clearance with orders (with Janny);
- wrapping tables;
- painting the wall in Show Room, preparing it for customers and visitors;
- cleaning floor;
- cutting small peaces of fabric to protect handles of sewing machines;
- copy patterns
- 7pm - talk at the kitchen with Zowie and Emily, showing portfolio, making the decision about work placement.
Who is Boudicca:
- Zowie Broach, Brian Kirkby - Head Designers, Owners of the Label;
- Neha Ahmed, Emily Howse - Production Managers;
- Chris Hall, Jenny Lai, Fiona Lam - interns;
- Margaret, Bozenna, Ella, Joanna - sewers.
There are 11 people who work in the studio which based at First Floor, 45 Vyner Street, London, E2 9DQ. T.02089819413. The studio consists of 5 rooms: production area, show room, a kitchen, designers’ room, laundry/toilet.
The rules in the studio are strict and required to be always concentrated on work, don’t use mobile phone, be logical in everything the person does and ask only if extremely there wasn’t a way to find an answer.
Each Monday holds a meeting where Zowie, Neha, Emily and interns having a discussion where develop the strategy for the rest of the week. Each person gets his own instructions and deadlines.
Day 1, and other days working hours: 9am - 7.30, sometimes untill 9pm.
- making ‘sample sale’ labels: cutting, sewing them into garments, placing garments in Show Room
- helping everybody: means if at the moment you have nothing to do then you go and help other people in studio
- making a lunch with Fiona
- checking prices/quantity of orders
Day 2
- continuing to sew labels on garments
- counting trimmings: what do we have and what to buy; pens, blades, etc.
- distribution leftovers of last season fabrics on scrap and waist
- putting jackets on hangers
- cleaning the kitchen after cooking
- going with Emily at Compulsory School, giving remains of pleated paper to kids
- going to post office, food shopping
Day 3
- labeling garments
- checking the order/quantity
- cutting blue strips
- cutting lining
- cutting labels
Day 4
- labeling garments
- learning the names of each piece from current collection
- degree.com - check the art gallery
- cooking a lunch
- cutting patterns
Day 5
- taking the measurements of fabrics, ribbons
- cooking a lunch
- cleaning show room, preparing it for customers
Day 6
- cutting of red dresses, jersey
- visiting the studio of 25 students from Canada
- cooking a lunch
- scraps - putting in right boxes, learning the names of manufacturers
- cutting of black dress, 15 samples
- recycling
Day 7
- making labels for collection#28
- going to William Gee Trimmings, 520-522 Kingsland road, E8 4AH, to pick up threads
- ordering swatches
Day 8
- putting in right order fabrics: Ponges Habotai Silk, Henry Bertrand, Rubelli, James Hare, Abimelech, Hainsworth, Whiteley and Green
- checking the orders for Russia
Day 9
- creating labels
- shipping a private order to Balmacz, Julia
- cutting V-neck dresses
- checking the order list for right sizes for USA, Kuwait, Russia
- partying with Jenny, celebrating her last day at Boudicca
Day 10
- general meeting and discussing the plan of doings for rest of the week
- mocap.com, checking the orders
- cleaning of old collections
- going to bank
- unpicking, trousers
- cooking a lunch with Zowie
Day 11
- cleaning old collections
- unpicking, trousers
- cutting dresses, quantity - 30!
- cleaning the studio
Day 12
- www.mocap.platform13. - looks 1,4,6,8,11,14,19,23,25,29
- working with orders
Day 13
- cleaning collection#19
- putting garments in the right order at storage
- cutting garments
Day 14
- cleaning the studio
- searching for the right garment in look book
- measuring fabrics, lining, ribbons
Day 15
- making banding
- attending the meeting
- sorting the collections #15, 23, 19, 01, etc.
- cooking
- making labels
- work on patterns
- evening meeting
- waiting for patterns back from the grain line studio
- checking patterns
Day 16
- cutting of town cape, lining, fusing
- cooking
- double checking of patterns
Day 17
- packing for Momenti
- cutting fabrics, fringe
- drawing the patterns
Day 18
- cutting of lining and fusing for town cape
- cutting coat panels
- lunch, all studio went out for 15 min, it was sunny day
- going to oxford circus, returning damaged fabric at Minelli
- fusing, cutting
- cleaning the studio
Day 19
- reading ‘pattern making’ books
- packing the garments/exit of Day’n’Night (Russia), Wynn (NY)
- checking the quality of sewing, putting labels, sizing on garments
- wrapping into plastic bags, tagging on a top with stickers, putting it on rails with the names of shops
- cutting belt lining (silk) for town cape
Day 20
- cutting
- going to Europa Trimmings, 13-15 Lever Street, EC1V 3QU
- cutting coats
- making buttons for coats
- helping to sewers
Day 21
- cutting of Hi Noon Dress
- cleaning a trolley with weights
- counting buttons, zips, etc.
- banding
- preparing show room for a special client, changing collections
- ironing shirts
Day 22
- cutting lining
- making buttons
- checking fabrics
- cleaning
Day 23
- whole day cutting dresses
- cleaning
Day 24
- cutting ‘fringe dance floor dress’
- cutting sizing labels
- cleaning
Day 25
- cutting capes, lining
- checking orders
- finishing and packing
- cleaning
Day 26
- cutting capes, rest of the dresses
- checking the quantity of fabrics
- celebrating Easter before to go for Easter Holiday
- cleaning
The book I red during the work placement:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Latex-Clothes-Sian-Kate-Mooney/dp/0713488654
Lady Lucie Latex, my second internship, from 15th Feb until 25th Feb.
Duration: 2 weeks
Role: Studio Assistant
Ended with this letter:
Hi Iryna
Thanks for all your help in the studio so far. Unfortunately I have to stop the internship placement as there’s less tasks to be shared around than I thought. Also, with another Torture Garden and my fashion show in Athens coming up, I need to be able to use my table so there’s not enough room for an extra person.
Once again, thank you for your help. Good luck with your course.
Lucie
—
www.ladylucie.com
+44 (0)7794 084034
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/LadyLucieLatex
Who is Lady Lucie:
- Lucie Ashworth - main designer, owner;
- Jane - customer services, communication, orders, shipping;
- Lou - an intern, production and finishing garments.
Result: I learnt the whole process of creation of latex fashion from A to Z : designing, terms of sizing, gluing, thinning, possibility of latex rubber, trims, polishing, working surfaces, talcum powder, rollers, brushes, etc. Also I learnt how the company works with customers, orders and delivery system.
Experience with Saloni
From Diana to me on 16 February:
Hi Iryna,
I have attached our official invitation with the address on it, will probably have to meet there at 9am on the day.
Meantime, we need you to come over tomorrow as we will be having model fittings and it is very important to be part of it. Just come even for couple of hours if you can’t do full day. We will brief you for Friday too.
Many thanks and hope seeing you tomorrow,
You can call as on 020743135—
Best,
Daina
Saloni was my first internship
Duration: 1 day.
Role: a dresser.
17th February. Late evening I met the Saloni team: main designer Saloni Lodha, who’s name is the name of the brand; Daina, she has worked for Saloni for 3 years as Print Designer; 2 stylists, 2 studio assistants, models. We did some quality checking for tomorrow’s show. We did some quality checking for the next day presentation and left around midnight as the next day we would start early.
18th February. From 9am to 12pm we halped anyone who needed help, such as wrapping the presents for guests. From 12pm all the dresses were ready and placed on rails, dressers and photographers were ready, models were not. Saloni were using models from Elite Management Agency. A couple of agents attended with them as some models didn’t speak english.
‘The Fall collection was showcased in the Ballroom of the Savile Club. Created by May and Walter Burns in the 1890s and reconstructed by an eminent firm of Parisian architects and decorators, the Ballroom provided French opulence and a romantic backdrop to the presentation.’ (Sara’s blog, 2011, Interview from London…designer Saloni, p.1)
The presentation was from 1pm to 4pm and based on cat-walk in a mode of non-stop show. Obviously, it was 6 rounds. I had 1 model and 3 outfits.
In summary I dressed her 18 times. A short break was included.
At the end of the day Daina offered me an internship with them.
My Top 5 organisations I would like to work for
- Dior
- Comme des Garcons
- Balenciaga
- John Galliano
- Boudicca Platform 13
Also, companies I like:
- Alexander McQueen, A.F.Vandervorst, Acne, Ann Demeulemeester, Balmain, Carven, Erdem, Haider Ackermann, Hussein Chalayan, Kenzo, Lanvin, Maison Martin Margiela, Rodarte, Victor&Rolf.
As I started looking for work experience late (in January) many studios already had interns I had to wait for a responce a little longer.
I sent my CV and Cover Letters to:
- Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen, Jonathan Saunders, Matthew Williamson, Erdem, Julien Macdonald, Kristopher Kane, Richard Nicoll, Dunhill, PPQ, Ann Sofie Back, John Galliano, Gareth Pugh, Karla Otto, Burberry, Lady Lucie Latex, Michael Vanderham, Pringe Scotland.
Interviews, I was invited for and attended:
- Stella McCartney, Tom Soar, Erdem, Saloni.
Then, the placements I undertook:
- Saloni - Fashion Presentation F/W 2011, in terms of Fashion Week, 1 day;
- Lady Lucie Latex - Studio Assistant, 2 weeks;
- Boudicca Platform 13 - Studio Assistant, 5 weeks.
TOP 5
Here is my research on technological, economic social, political, fashion marketing fronts. In short, my-job-research for Industry and Professional Practice Project.
My mission:
- to evaluate in depth my learning experience and ability to construct a coherent action plan;
- to explore range and depth of analysis of own abilities and skills, in relation to career aspirations;
- also to explore range and coherance in presenting appropriate materials for work placement/or employment.
Definition of research: an endeavour to discover new or collate old facts etc. by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary
